Lifelong learning key competences

Materials

Scissors, sharp knives and tools to cut and punch holes in the material

Paint and brushes

Wire

Metal rings

Glue

Preparation

Ask the students to bring plastic bottles, cereal packaging, milk cartons or other forms of packaging that they have used and would otherwise throw out. Ask them to think about creative ways of reusing them.

Instructions

Brainstorm ideas of reusing the materials. You can find inspiration from the links under “further information”.

Ask the students to start their reusing projects. They can work independently or in groups.

When the students are finished with their projects, make an exhibition of their products.

Evaluation

Discuss whether some of the ideas that came up during the brainstorm or while the students were making their projects could be further developed.

Discuss the environmental problems that are caused by bad management of waste and the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling products. Talk about what individuals can do to reduce, reuse or recycle their waste.

Follow up suggestions

Tell the students about the Edible Six-Pack Rings project (see “further information”).

Discuss the problem of plastic in general (not necessarily plastic rings from beer or soda packs) in the nature.

Ask the students if anyone have some innovative ideas to make products more sustainable or to reuse existing products. Write the ideas down on the board and discuss how they could be developed.

If there are some good ideas you can work on a business plan on how to realise them.

Ideas for actions

Start a reduce, reuse and recycle project at the school or in the local community